SDLP Energy spokesperson Sinead McLaughlin
The Foyle MLA was responding to news that the British government is to commit to a reduction of 78% on 1990 levels of carbon emissions by 2035.
The Irish government is acting to achieve a 51% reduction on 1990 levels by the earlier date of 2030.
Said the Foyle MLA: “While Britain and Ireland are moving forward quickly in their shift away from dirty fossil fuels, the North of Ireland is stuck in the slow lane.
“Although we have had a new draft energy strategy for NI published in the last few days, I have zero confidence that it will meet the net zero target by 2050 – let alone tough targets for earlier dates.
“NI’s strategy contains too much hot air and not enough proposed action to deal with actual airborne emissions.
“The NI strategy is intending to further grow the natural gas sector, despite it being a fossil fuel and one that the British government is seeking to eliminate quickly.
“The biggest challenge we face is how to upgrade homes to become energy efficient, which the strategy has far too little to say about.
“New Decade, New Approach committed to the adoption of the Green New Deal, which would create thousands of jobs, bring down families’ home heating costs, improve air quality and meet our commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
“Yet the Economy Minister Diane Dodds admitted in a written answer to me in the Assembly this week that discussions around the implementation of the Green New Deal have barely started.”
